anatomize

Verb

1. To cut up or dissect (the body of a human being or an animal), specifically for the purpose of investigating its anatomy.
   • VVho but a Foppe vvil labour to anatomize a Flye? - 1592, Tho[mas] Nashe, “To the Gentlemen Readers”, in Strange Newes, of the Intercepting Certaine Letters and a Convoy of Verses, […], London: […] Iohn Danter, […],...
   • Then let them anotomize Regan, ſee vvhat breeds about her / Hart[,] is there any cauſe in nature that makes this hardnes, […] - c. 1603–1606 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] His True Chronicle Historie of the...
   • [A]bout him lay the carkaſſes of many ſeuerall beaſts, nevvly by him cut vp and Anatomiſed, […] - 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Democritus Iunior to the Reader”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy, […],...

   1. To punish (someone) by post mortem dissection following execution.

      • […] Surgeon's Hall, where malefactors were anatomised after execution—a Sanguinary but Salutary custom—was in the Old Bailey, over against the leads of the Sessions House […] - 1863, George Augustus Sala, “Of Certain...
2. To cut up or dissect (a plant or one of its parts) to investigate its structure.
3. To scrutinize (something) down to the most minute detail.
   • Near-synonyms: atomize, analyze
   • I ſpeake but brotherly of him, but ſhould I anathomize him to thee, as hee is, I muſt bluſh, and vveepe, and thou muſt look pale and vvonder. - c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr....
   • I vvould gladly haue him ſee his company anathomiz'd, that hee might take a meaſure of his ovvne iudgements, vvherein ſo curiouſly he had ſet this counterfeit. - c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s...

   Synonyms: atomize analyze

4. To chemically analyse (a substance).
   • Laſtly, it can not be othervviſe but that the fire, in all this vvhile of continuall application to the body it thus anatomiſeth, hath hardned and as it vvere roſted ſome partes into ſuch greatneſſe and dryneſſe as they...
   • Tell me, philosopher, thou who arrogatest to thyself the proud name, and who callest the cloud a vapour, and anatomizest the free and ambient air into thy wretched hydrogen and nitrogen,—tell me, dost thou know what it...
5. To cut up or dissect the body of a human being or an animal.
   • The most learned philosopher […] might dissect, anatomise, and give names; but, not to speak of a final cause, causes in their secondary and tertiary grades were utterly unknown to him. - 1831 October 31, Mary...
   • Impiety? Not if I know myself! / Not if you know the heart and soul, I bare, / I bid you cut, hack, slash, anatomize, / Till peccant part be found and flung away! - 1873 January 23, Robert Browning, “Part IV”, in Red...
   • He [John Keats] was a youth of energy and purpose, and though he no doubt penned many a stanza when he should have been anatomizing, and walked the hospitals accompanied by the early gods, nevertheless passed a very...